4 ms·
Curiously, it seems the best way to reduce (though not avoid) micro plastic exposure from tea bags is to switch from cellulose tea bags to plastic ones – nylon:
by leobg 2y ago
Curiously, it seems the best way to reduce (though not avoid) micro plastic exposure from tea bags is to switch from cellulose tea bags to plastic ones – nylon:
> polypropylene releases approximately 1.2 billion particles per milliliter, with an average size of 136.7 nanometers; cellulose releases about 135 million particles per milliliter, with an average size of 244 nanometers; while nylon-6 releases 8.18 million particles per milliliter, with an average size of 138.4 nanometers.
- vinckr 2y agoor use a small metal or ceramic bowl to hold the tea -> zero plastic involved.
- mandmandam 2y agoWell, no, because those measurements are per ml. A nylon bag uses many more mls than a paper bag using plastic glue.
- marcosdumay 2y agoThe nylon strength and stability making for counterintuitive trade-offs yet again. It's a ridiculously underrated material. (Does it fare worse or better if reused? I don't have a clue, but there are reusable nylon bags.) Anyway, particle size probably matters, and I'm not sure it wins on that count. Also anyway, you can get a steel tea holder, so the best way is to completely avoid plastics here. You can also probably get your leaves much cheaper in 200g or 1kg bags.
- leobg 2y agoSure. I use whole leaf, brew it in a glass cup, and pass it through a stainless steel sieve. Bags seem wasteful on so many levels.
- amanaplanacanal 2y agoI'll take the micro cellulose particles. I already get cellulose in my food and I know my gut bacteria can digest small quantities.